So there was a prequel novel to Angel Beats, and currently the first chapter is up for download. It follows the adventures of Hianta and Yuri before the rest of the gang appeared, told from Hinata’s point out view, and reveals a few interesting tidbits.

Hinata died by being hit by a truck, in an accident, not from an overdose. Although we’re given hints that his life took a rather dark turn after he started his life of drugs.

The world is a purgatory to sort out what happened while the people were alive, and come to terms with it. Although Hinata briefly considers it being hell. Hey, he has a point, an eternity of high school? Yeesh.

Otherwise, we do get to see what happens if you ask Tachibana questions about the god and the world, to which she has no idea. Which makes sense, if she’s a normal human, how the heck would she know? It’s pretty amusing when Hinata gets so fed up, he tries to confess to her, and Yuri gets jealous…

Otherwise, that’s it. It’s really short. The people who did this said they aren’t going to do anymore, which is a shame. I’m not sure if the writing is only so-so or the translation is so-so, but I’d like to know more about the world of Angel Beats.